Combination lock



jan. 5, 1935'.

o. J. CARLSON 1,987,925

' COMBINATION LOCK Filed June l5. 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l [Ei/m fis-ff Z 4f um JZ lu m51 /Nz/EA/v-UR o. J. CARLSON Jan- 15, 1935- G. J. CARLSON lyfgryl COMBINATION LOCK Filed June 13, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 O. Ja CARLSON Patented Jan. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PTllilf'" OFFICE COMBINATION LOCK Application June 13, 1933, lSerial No. 675,591

2 Claims.

Thisinvention relates generally to locks, and particularly 'to a combination lock.

The main object of this invention is to produce an exceedinglyv simple` and .efficient form of combination lock providing a relatively great number of possible combinations for a limited number of parts requiring only a minimum degreel of accuracy in their manufacture.

The second object is to construct a combination lock` whose combination cannot be learned by the feel method employed vby expert lock openers.

These, and other objects, will become more apparent from the specification following as illustratedr in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan of the device. showing saine applied to the door of an automobile.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the lock.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the lock showing the parts in an unlocked position with theoperating ipins placed in an imaginary position inthe line .of section.

. Fig. 4 isa section taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5--5 in Fig. 3.

Fig. `6 is a section .take-nalong the line ,6 6 in Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is Ya sectional view ,similar to Fig. 3 except that it shows the parts in a locked position.

Fig; 8 is a section taken along the line 8-8 in Fig 'If Fig. 9 .is va section taken alone the line 9,-9 in Fis.k 7-

Fig. 10 is a section taken along thel line 10.10 in Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a section taken along the line 11-11 in Fig. 7.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the first lock disk with a portion broken away in section.

Similar numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the device itself consists of a cylindrical barrel 14 one end of which is provided with a flange 15. The flanged end 15 is provided with a cylindrical opening 16 in which is slidably and rotatably mounted a dial knob 17. The central portion of the barrel 14 is provided with a bore 18 which is slightly larger in diameter than is the opening 16. The end 19 is provided with a grooved counterbore 20.

Within the bore 18 is placed a series of lock disks which will be referred to as the irst disk (Cl. fui- 53) 21, second disk 22 and third disk 23. Each of these disks has an enlarged central cylindrical portion 24 from one side of which projects a hub 25 and from the other side of which projects an annular ring 26. The hub 25 has a cylindrical opening 2'7 formed therethrough along its axis, which opening is provided with a keyway 28. IThe ring 26 has a cylindrical recess 29 formed .therein which is concentric with the member 24.

Equi-distant from the axis of the member 24 and parallel therewith are formed the threaded openings 30, certain ones of which are occupied by screws 31 and 32. The screws 31 in the disks 2l, 22 and 23 are provided with elongated square heads tively, and these are on the sides of the 21, 22 and 23 facing the dial knob 17. The screws 32 are provided with similar square elongated heads ofwhich the head 32-A projects from the disk 2l and the head SZ-B projects from the disk 22. Both of these last `mentioned heads face toward the end 19.

Pinned or otherwise secured within the dial knob 17 is a shaft 33 which passes through the opening 27, through the retaining disk 34 which is held within the bore 20 by means of a snap ring, 35, and also through the guiding platey 36 in order that the end 37 of the shaft 33 may constitutea bolt for the latch 38 whose opening 39 registers with the bolt 37 when the latch 38 is ina locking position (as shown in l).

Against the hub 25 of the first disk 21 is placed a washer 40 between which and the counterbored end of the dial knob 17 is placed a compression spring 41. The dial knob 1*! is also provided with a dial pin 42 which is always in the cylindrical path of the head 21-A, and can be brought into engagement therewith regardless of the longitudinal position of the dial knob 17.

The shaft 33 is also provided with three lugs. 43-A, 43-B and 43-(3` which occupy the keyways 28 while the bolt 37 is in a retracted or unlocked position.

Projecting from the barrel 14 is a boss 44 which is provided with radial openings 45, each of which contains a ball 46 which is urged toward its respective disk 21, 22 or 23 by means of a spring 47 which is held in place by a screw 48. It is desirable to provide each disk 21, 22 and 23 with a groove 49 to receive the ball 46.

The dial knob 17 is provided with numbered graduations 50 and the flange 15 with an indicator point 51.

Although the device is susceptible to use in any of the Ways in which similar devices are now used, its operation may be explained in connection With an ordinary automobile car door 52 Whose latch 38 is manually operated by means of the handles 53.

When the car is in use the lock parts are in the position shown in Fig. B-that is, with the bolt 37 in a retracted position in which the collar 54, which is pinned to the shaft 33, bears against the disk 34; but when it is desired to lock the automobile the operator merely pushes the knob 17 into the recess 16 against the action of the spring 41, causing the bolt 37 to enter the opening 39 in the latch 38.

In order to keep the bolt 37 in this locked position it is necessary to rotate same, and since the lugs 43-A, 43-B and 43-C have emerged from their respective keyways 28 they are free to rotate Within the recesses 29 Without irnparting motion to their respective disks 21, 22 or 23. If, however, such rotation is imparted by means of the dial knob 17 then the lugs Ii3-A, 43B and 43-C may be brought out of register with their respective keyways 28 and the bolt 37 will not be retracted by the spring 41.

It will be assumed that the parts have been moved to the position shown in Fig. 7 and it is now necessary to unlock same, the operator, who is possessed of the combination, which combination is based upon the particular openings 30 which are occupied by the heads 21-A, 21-B and 21--C and 32-A, 32-B and 32-C, now turns the dial 17 a number of times to the right, the net result of which is to bring the pin 42 into engagement with the head 2l-A Whereby the disk 21 may be rotated by the dial knob 17. A further movement of the knob 17 Will cause the head 32-B to engage the head 21-C making it possible for the disk 22 to move the disk 23 until the keyway 28 in the disk 23 :s properly positioned.

The knob 17 is then moved in a reverse direction to a known combination until the pin 42 engages the opposite side of the head 21A and reverses the direction of the disk 21 and ultimately the direction of the disk 22 until its keyway 28 is properly positioned. The direction of the rotation of the knob 17 is again reversed to the third and nal setting of the combination which brings all or" the keyways 23 into alignment with the lugs 43--A, 43--B and i3-C and permits the bolt 37 to be retracted by the spring 41.

It will be noted that the function of the balls 46 is merely to prevent the rotation of the various disks under the turning movement of the shaft 33, or for any other reason except the positive driving action of the disks 2l, 22 and 23.

It can readily be seen that the possible number of combinations obtainable by this construction is exceedingly great and that since the actions which occur Within the lock during the manipulation of the knob 17 are not of a character which will permit same to be felt or heard it is clear that the unauthorized opening of this lock would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, other than accidental.

rThe particular manner of fastening this lock in position in order to prevent its unauthorized removal will depend largely upon the particular requirements, but for the purpose of illustration there are shown lugs formed on the outside or" the barrel 14 by means of which the lock may be held in position from the interior of the door 52.

It will be understood that the details of construction of this device Wiil vary greatly depending upon the conditions under which it is used and it is not my intention to be bound to these details but intend that the scope'of this invention shall be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A lock comprising a series of spaced rotatable lock disks each of which has a central opening provided with a keyway, each of said disks having selectively positioned heads projecting from the opposite sides thereof whereby rotation of one disk can ca .f a lesser rotation of an adjacent disk, a shaft passing through said central opening having lugs projecting therefrom normally occupying said keyways, and a spring-urged dial knob attached to said shaft whereby said shaft may be rotated or caused to slide through said disks, the end of said shaft opposite said knob constituting a locking bolt.

2. A combination lock comprising a plurality of frictionally held rotatable disks mounted on a shaft in spaced relationship, each disk having a keyway in the shaft-engaging portion thereof, said shaft having lugs projecting radially therefrom and normally occupying said keyvlays, a i

spring for urging said shaft to hold said lugs within said keyways, a dial knob for imparting rotary motion to the rst disk and sliding motion to said shaft, projections on the opposite sides o the iirst and second disks for transy mitting a rotary motion between same, and projections extending from the adjacent sides of the second and third disks for transmitting lesser rotary motion therebetween, the end of said shaft opposite said knob constituting the boit member of the lock.

OSCAR J. CARLSON. 

